Banaba is abunndant in the PHL and other Asian countries. It is widely used for Ayuvedic medicine and herbal medicine. The scientific name is Lagestromia speciosa. Its flowers and leaves is rich in corolic acid which is supposed to work like insulin. It delays the absorption of carbohydrates.
It is widely used for solving dysuria. It is rich in fiber and magnesium. Taking banaba tea results in weight loss of 2 to 5 lbs a month. In US patents have been filed for such application (2004) There are banaba leave extract capsules.
Since it is abundant in the PHL: we should NOT BE spending a lot on many pharma drug preparation. Those who prepare the herbal formulation should be armed with this knowledge. Our MDs who know that we have patients who can not afford Pfizer of Merk Drugs must prescribe banaba leaves instead. Why cant our medical schools or medical society work on this knowledge, or even the diabetic societies? No one will sponsor? There is no banaba pharma yet? Waaaah?!
Why had we allowed China and US pharma exploit this wonderful local tree?
More on banaba:
Banaba Herbal Medicine from Medical Health Guide
Banaba Herb.com
Dr. Ray Sahelian on Banaba
Diabetes Health on Banaba
